Viewing Stones at B&M / Buying Online

[katrina_33]

Hello All,

When the time comes, I fully intend to make a diamond purchase online. However, before I do so, I want to see examples of the different sizes, clarities, and colors I''m considering, in different combinations, in person.

My question is how to go about doing this without totally exploiting the B&M store that I have no intention of buying from? What''s the protocol for this?

I wouldn''t mind asking to see a few different diamonds, but if I want to see really specific things, in lots of different combinations, I know that this will take up a lot of a salespersons time, and they will probably expect to keep following up to see if we''re ready to purchase.

Should I just stick to Robbins Bros or Tiffanys with no guilt because they''re both large corporations who are set up to handle lots of looky-loos?

Also, I live in Los Angeles, does anyone know where I can see H&A diamonds in person here?

Thanks for your advice, I''m just not quite sure how to go about this!

--Katrina

 

[pqcollectibles]

There's a huge diamond district in LA where you can browse to your heart's content. On Hill Street. Here's an old post that discussed the LA Jewelry District:

http://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/x4557.htm

I did the same thing you are planning to do. I got out and looked around locally to get a feel for size, color, clarity, sparkle factor for the quality of cut. Don't feel bad that you are doing that. It's all a part of the learning process. Be up front with the sales people. Tell them you are learning. That you've been reading and learning about the 4 C's. That you want to see, with your eyes, what it all means. That you aren't ready to buy just yet. Quality sales people don't mind to work with you, if they aren't busy with other customers, and/or you are willing to wait for them to make time for you.

Also, B&M's get diamonds in "On Memo" from wholesalers that are listed on the internet. Several people have posted on PS that they found diamonds from the "Lists" available in local shops. The asking prices were reasonable, competitive, or the B&M worked with the buyer to reach a satisfactory compromise. You may find a diamond that you like, reasonably priced, in a local shop as well.

 

[valeria101]

Sounds tricky... I am not sure one store can provide a "data bank", but I would expect any store can bring up one piece, right? And there must be at least one distributor of branded H&A around (Leo, Harts on Fire) with goods ready to show.

Just to throw in my 0.2: I am not sure what good would it do to ask for specific color&clarity combinations - it is not likely to find two diamonds with the same outline of inclusions anyway. One VS or higher would speak for all the breed and no two SI would be the same. Color is another matter - the worse the cut, the more any "tint" would show so it makes sense to hit the Mall and hope to find stones of different color grades with GIA, EGL, IGI or whatever cert. A HOF stone will demonstrate what cut can do, but it is harder to identify where average rounds (with no brand of H&A) stand relative to the respective "ideal" unless stones are lined up... I wander whether you could be interested to use an IdealScope for the occasion.

 

[pqcollectibles]

While brokers and jewelers will bring in diamonds for you, they want to be fairly certain you are planning to buy. Shipping costs them money and it doesn't take many stones to add up to a fair $$ amount. I meant for you to look at existing inventories that various jewelers have on hand, in stock. You shouldn't have a problem seeing a range of diamonds if you visit several shops. You might get lucky, and see some good side-by-side comparisons at one sitting.

 

[chialea]

As for cut, I went and looked at some HoF diamonds after hanging around on this board for a while (to be fair, my mom had some, so it was easy), said "wow", and then decided that I was done looking at cut. Basically I decided that people here were really right -- cut makes such a huge difference that I was going to go for the absolute best cut I could get... and what more did I need to know?

 

[kevinng]

Don't go during the busy periods. Also, excuse yourself if there are other customers around.

I do that all the time... to educate myself. But it's not all lost to them. If I like the attitude of certain sales staff, I will go back to them to do other things, like setting, resizing, or buying jewellery without diamonds on them.

 

[katrina_33]

Thanks everyone.

Re: cut - I already know I want a super-ideal / H&A cut diamond, without having seen one in person yet - just from looking at pics online, they are SO much more interesting and beautiful to me.

I just want to see H&A / ideal cut stones in person because I know that these cuts show color differently - it may be a waste of time to decide on the lowest color I'm confortable if I'm looking at the different colors in average cut stones, right?

Re: what was said about clarity (sorry, I can't remember who said it because I can't see it now) You're absolutely right. I keep thinking there's a magic "right answer" but you're right that it won't really do any good to look at different clarities in person since the specific inclusions in each stone are all that matters. So, I'm going to have to trust an online vendor to be my eyes in the end, and take comfort in the fact that I can always return a stone if it's not what I thought it would be, clarity wise. Right?

Still, I'd like to compare different carat weights side by side, and different colors in ideal cut diamonds.

I think I'll find somewhere that sells H&A diamonds and just ask to see a couple of different sizes / colors. That shouldn't take up too much of anyones time, and should put my mind at ease!

Thanks everyone

 

[katrina_33]

And I think you guys are right that if you're upfront about what you're there for, and respectful of the fact that they're running a business and need to attend to paying customers first, it should be fine.

Besides, in my limited experience going into good jewelery stores, the salespeople really love diamonds, and are always keen to talk about them, so if it's slow, I'm sure they wouldn't mind educating someone.

I just don't want to do anything inappropriate!

 

[Superidealist]

On 6/12/2004 12:36:37 PM katrina_33 wrote:

My question is how to go about doing this without totally exploiting the B&M store that I have no intention of buying from?

...

Also, I live in Los Angeles, does anyone know where I can see H&A diamonds in person here?

First, I'm glad to see that you have the strength of character even to ask yourself this. Many people wouldn't give it a second thought.

How do you do this without exploiting the bricks and mortar business? I think there are two solutions.

1) Be completely upfront by telling them what you've told us and asking their permission.

-or-

2) Go in with a changed attitude. Give them a chance to make the sale. Many bricks and mortar stores won't be willing to match the prices you find online. Some may. Understand that there is real value in dealing with someone local and factor that into the price you are willing to pay. It's not always about finding the lowest price. It's about finding a fair price.

***

Two places in Los Angeles I recommend from personal experience:

The Jewelry Source - EightStar and Polar Bear dealer. Former A Cut Above dealer. They also sell unbranded hearts and arrows diamonds. Knowledgable and friendly staff. This is my jeweler.

Servis and Taylor - Former Hearts on Fire dealer. They sell Tundra and unbranded hearts and arrows diamonds. Knowledgeable and helpful staff.

 

[katrina_33]

I got the idea of buying a diamond online solely from this website! I had never even considered it before.

Everyone seems to recommend it. There's the fact that it costs less due to not having to pay sales tax. Also, several people on the forums have complained that there aren't good options in terms of B&M stores that sell ideal cut, H&A diamonds in Los Angeles.

I'm not dead set on it, and would rather do business with a local retailer all other things being equal (or near equal).
It's just that a lot of the vendors that people rave about here and seem to really truse happen to be online vendors.

 

[Superidealist]

On 6/12/2004 11:15:31 PM katrina_33 wrote:

There's the fact that it costs less due to not having to pay sales tax. Also, several people on the forums have complained that there aren't good options in terms of B&M stores that sell ideal cut, H&A diamonds in Los Angeles.

...

It's just that a lot of the vendors that people rave about here and seem to really trust happen to be online vendors.

You may be obligated to pay tax on your purchase, but many are and do not.

Los Angeles is a large market; there are top quality goods to be found if you look. I've given you two options but I imagine that there are dozens of others.

The vendors most people here recommend are the vendors who participate on the board. There are many more who do not participate who are every bit as good and trustworthy. One may even be in your neighborhood, but you'll never know if you don't look.

Good luck with your diamond search.

 

[katrina_33]

SuperIdealist - I went to the Servis & Taylor website and am very excited. I plan to visit them soon. They do specalize in AGS Triple 0 and H&A diamonds, but what really got me was that they specalize in Canadian & other certified "non-conflict" diamonds, which is something I'm also interested in. They've also been in business for 25 years, which is very reassuring to me!

Thanks for the recommendation.